Community-based organisations and options for WATSAN - WaterAid

Photo : WaterAid/Mahider Tesfu
Methodology
Five percent of the total population were interviewed. In
order to accommodate or represent the view of the
whole community, the respondents were classified into
five groups mainly based on their economic status as
rich, middle wealthy, poor, destitute and female heads.
Respondents were from different educational and
occupational status.
The study team consisted of one external consultant,
one research officer from WaterAid Ethiopia and a
volunteer. After the study was completed a
dissemination workshop was held for the community
and feed back was obtained.
In order to conduct this study a qualitative research
methodology was employed. Different data collection
tools like secondary data collection, observation,
interview, and focus group discussions (FGD) were
used.
Key findings
Traditional Pit Latrine visited during the study
The Study report reveals the following findings.
1. WATSAN facilities:
There is no potable water and the sanitation
coverage is almost none in the area. As the result,
water and sanitation related diseases are
commonly reported in the area.
2. Social impact:
Women and children are facing Problems while
they are transporting water from rivers and springs.
There are women who were abducted, raped and
injure physical because of the topographic nature
of the water source.
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3. Forms of CBOs and their functions
The project area population has different community
based organizations like iddir, iqub, faith based
CBOs and other organization that are affiliated with
the local government. CBOs in the community are
established to meet different goals, “Iddir” for
funeral purpose and “Iqub” for rotational credit.
There are also faith based CBOs that are
established by Orthodox religion followers; among
which ‘senbet’ is the main one. Senbete operates
just like iddir except in that it gives support to
members for problems other than death. The
Kebele women association is one CBO that has
local government involvement. The main purpose
of the association is to empower women on
different issues. Among the above mentioned
CBOs the most common one is iddir. All the iddirs
have their own bylaws and set different criteria for
accepting new members. This doesn’t mean that
every member of the community has an iddir. In
the area there are four well-known iddirs
established in different periods
4. Micro finance experience of the area:
No microfinance institution is found in Ticho. It is
also true that there is no community based
WATSAN micro credit and micro finance institution
in the area. The only available institutes operating
in Arsi zone are Oromia Credit and saving Share
Company and Makilit. This fact hampered potential
coping mechanism of the people:
5. Options for WATSAN micro credit schemes:
There are four options for provision of WATSAN
micro credit.
5.1 Commissioning Micro finance institution:
Advantages
• The loan is managed and run on a sound and
sustainable financial line.
• Micro-credit institutions have relatively better
skill and capacities to run a micro-credit
scheme.
• A micro financial institution has egitmacy form
national laws governing financial institution.
Disadvantages
• Most micro-finance institution provides credit
for productive activities.
• Guarantee requirement, high interest rate and
down payments, all of which are major
constrains for disadvantaged and poorer
section of the community.